Vacuum cleaner



July 21, 1936. G. LJUNGQUIST VACUUM CLEANER Filed July 51, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR I July 21, I936:- G.YLJUNGIQUIST' 2,048,273

' VACUUM CLEANER Filed 'July :51, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 j yYENTQR BY 4 Patented July 21, 1936 "UNITED STATss' 2348.21 vacuum CLEANER.

Gustaf Liunruuist. Stockholm, Sweden, Mm

to Electrolux Corporation, Dover, DeL, doorporation of Delaware Application July 31., 1934, Serial No. 137,695

In Germany August 5, 19 33 a 13 Claims. (01. 15-155 My invention relates 'to vacuum cleaners and particularly to cleaning implements or nozzles for use in connection therewith.

One of the objects of my invention isto provide a cleaning nozzle having an elongated mouth my invention this rotationis brought about by rotating the hollow handle which also serves as a suction conduit for the nozzle.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved form of small nozzle wherein a platesurrounds the suction opening of the nozzle, the plate being providedwith a plurality of downwardly extending projections, the purpose of i which is to mechanically loosen threads and the like which may then'be picked up by the high velocity air stream.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings,which form a part of the speciflcation and of which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view oi the device shown in Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on an'enlarged scale taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4. is a bottom view of another embodiment of my invention; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. r

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 through 3, reference character I0 designates generally a nozzle which may be of cast or pressed metal construction. Nozzle l0 includes a cylindrical portion it formed with an internal bore Ila. Integral with cylindrical portion ll is an elongated. portion l2 forming an elongated mouth piece 13. Mouth piece is communicates with bore Ha by means of a channel M. Underneath cylindrical portion in and behind the elongated port on I2 is a rectangular portion l5 which forms a small suction nozzle. Portion 15 comprises a plate Hi from the underside of .which extends a plurality of knobs or similar projections H. The "ends of projectionsll are preldrical valve member 22. Valve member 22 is and prevent the accumulation therein of dirt.

conjunction with the recesses serves to retain thereto to overcome the resistance of the detent.

erably rounded. Ridges l8 extend downwardly from either end oi plate It approximately the same distance as projections H. A suction opening I9 is formed .in plate It and communicates with bore Ila by means of a channel 20. A ridge 2| surrounds opening l9. This ridge does not extend downwardly as tar as either projections H or ridges l8. 1

Rotatably mounted within bore Ila is a cylinformed with an opening 23 on one side thereof 10 which, in certain positions of the valve member is in alignment with the inner end of channel It and permits communication between this channel and the interior of the bore. An opening'24 is formed in the other side of valve member 22 and so located that, when the valve memher is rotated 180 from the position shown in V Fig. 3, it registers with the inner end of channel 20, thus establishing communication between the small suction opening l9 and the interior of the bore. Cylindrical portion II is formed with a circumferential slot 25 which extends approximately 180. A hand grasp member 26 is rotatably mounted on the outside of cylindrical portion II and is secured to valve'member 22 by means of a rivet or the like 21 which extends through slot 25. Rivet 21 not'only iastens tnese two members together but, in conjunction with the slot, prevents axial movement of either or them. a The lower end of valve member 22 is formed with a reenforcing member 28 which also serves to block oii the lower end of the valve member A spring pressed detent 29 is provided in the lower end of cylindrical portion II and is adapted to engage oppositely positioned recesses 30 in'the lower end of valve member 22. The detent in m the valve member in the position shown in Fig. 3, or in the position with opening 24 in alignment with channel 20, while permitting rotation of the valve member when suflicient force is applied M The upper end of bore I2 is tapered slightly, as is shown at M in order to receive the tapered 'end of a suction conduit. This conduit is usually a rigid tubular memberwhich also serves as a handle for moving the nozzle over the surface to be cleaned. The other end of the suction conduit is connected by suitable means, such as a. flexible hose, to a vacuum cleaner which func tions to produce a flow of air therethrough. 7

The operation oi theabove described nozzle is as follows: J

With the valve member in the position shown in- Fig. 3 and the nozzleconnected to a suitable source of suction, air-is drawn in through mouth piece I 3, passage l4, valve member 22 and bore Ila. If the nozzle is passed over a dusty surface, this flow of air picks up the dust and carries it to the vacuum cleaner. Due to the length oi mouth piece it, a comparatively large area. is cleaned by moving the nozzle back and forth thereover, 1 r

.In the event that threads or other similar obiects, whichhave a tendency to cling to the surface o'iLa rug, are encountered it may be that the suction produced in the large mouth piece II is not suiiicient to dislodge the threads. In order to remove them, hand grasp member 22 is'turn'ed through approximately 180, thereby causing similar movement of valve member 22 which cuts ofl communication with the' large nozzle and establishes communication with the mailer opening 19. 'Air is admitted underneath plate It at the rear side thereof and passes with high velo'city toward the opening. The ridge 2| around the opening causes-the air to have a still higher ..velocity"just as, it passes into the opening. It

the nozzle is moved over the surface to which the threads are adhering, projections I! will mechanically dislodge the threads and the high velocity air stream will pick them up and carry them to the vacuum cleaner. Ridges l8 act in the nature of runners and prevent the projections I'I from digging into the rug. The position of rivet 21 provides a convenient means for the operator to know which of the nozzle openings is in communication with, the bore.

The modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 are similar to that just described except that the cylindrical portion, here designated with reference character 35 is shorter in axial extent than was cylindrical portion ll. Valve member, on the other hand, is longer than valve member 22 and extends beyond the upper end of the cylinprovided with a plurality of holes 42 therethrough which permit the entrance of air to the space between the plate and the surface being cleaned. The operation or this embodiment is as follows:

with the valve member 38 in the position shown in Fig. 5, the large mouth piece Ills in com 'munication with the source of suction connected to conduit 38. In the event that it is desired to use the small mouth piece, hollow handle meml neath. This air picks up threads and the like ber or conduit 38 is rotated through approximately 180, thereby imparting a like motion to valve member )36. Hence, mouth piece it is cut oil and communication is established with the opening 19 in the smaller mouth piece. The air now passes through openings" in plate It and passes over the surface being cleaned therebedislodged from. the surface by projections l'l. Portion 31 of valve member 38 may be provided with indicating means, such as two marhs 44 on claims viewed in the light of the prior art.

ed to be rotated to rotate said valve member.

one side thereof and one in'ark 43 on the other .side to indicate which nozzle is connected to the bore.

In the event that the upper end of the hollow handle member 88 is curved, as is shown in Fig. 5 5 to provide a substantially horizontal portion to be held in the operatorsv hand, rotation of this member through 180 will change the inclination of the lower end of the member, and hence the inclination of the nozzle. In order to compensate for this change, the plane of the opening it in mouth piece l2 may be angularly disposed with respect to the plane of the opening is in mouth pice i6. This is clearly shown in Fig. 5. Hence.

when the handle 38 is rotated, the nozzle will be tiltedso that ridges ll on-plate It will be brought into contact with the surface to be cleaned and the iorward lip of mouth piece l2 will be raised slightly from the floor. This arrangement has the additional advantage that,

when one mouthpiece is being used, the other is out or contact with the surface andhence does not oiler any i'rictionalresis'tance to the movement of the nozzle as a whole over the-surface.

While I have shown' and described two more or less specific embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that this is for the purpose of illustration only and that the scope of myinvention is to be determined by the appended What I claim is:

1. In a cleaning implement, in combination, a housing formed with a cylindrical bore. means forming a large suction mouth piece communieating with said bore, means forming a small suction mouth piece communicating with said bore, a cylindrical valve member within said bore rotatable coaxially therewith to-selectively cut off communication between the respective mouth pieces and the interior of said bore, and a cylindricai tubular member constituting a handle for said implement and communicating with said bore, the axes of said valve membenand of said tubular member being'in alignment.

2. In a, cleaning device, a housing having a cylindrical bore, means forming a plurality of various sized suction mouth pieces communicating with said bore, a rotary valve member within said bore for selectively cutting off communi cation between the respective mouth pieces and said bore, and a tubular member concentric with and secured to said valve member, said tubular member being accessible outside said housing so i as to be rotatable to rotate said valve member.

' 3. In a. cleaning device, in combination, a housing having a cylindrical bore, means forming a large suction mouth piece below and'communie eating with said bore, means iorming a small suction mouth piece beside the large mouth piece and communicatingwith said bore, a rotary valve. to

in said bore for selectively cutting of! communication between the respective mouth pieces and the interior of said bore, and a rigid conduit I member secured in said valve member and adapt I 4. In a cleaning device, in combination, a housing having a cylindrical bore, means forming a large suction mouthpiece below and communicating with said bore, means forming a small suction mouth piece beside the large mouth-piece 70 and communicating with said bore, the, plane of the opening orv one of said mouth-pieces being di posed at an angle with respect to the plane of the opening or the other mouth-piece, a rotary valve in said bore for selectively cutting ofi com- 7 th'e remainder of the member, the angles being tion between the respective mouth-pieces and said' bore, a tubular hand grasp member rotatably mounted on the outside of the portion of said housing forming said bore and concentric with said valve member, and means connecting said hand grasp member to said valve member so that said members rotate together.

6. A suction nozzle including means forming a boreadapted to receive a suction conduit, a plate member rigid with respect to said means and having an opening therethrough communicating with said bore, a downwardly protruding rim extending completely around said opening, and a plurality of projections extending downwa dly from said plate outside said rim.

7. A suction nozzle including means forming a bore adapted to receive a suction conduit, a plate member rigid with respect to said means and having an opening therethrough communicating with said bore, a downwardly protruding rim extending completely around said opening, a rim extending downwardly from at least a portion of the periphery of said plate, and a plurality of projections extending downwardly from said plate between said rims.

8. A suction nozzle including means forming a bore adapted to receive a suction conduit, a plate member rigid with respect to said means and having an opening therethrough communicating with said bore, a downwardly extending rim around said opening, a downwardly extending rim around the periphery of said plate, and a plurality of projections extending downwardly from said plate between said rims, said plate being formed with an aperture therethrough in the neighborhood of said projections.

9. In a cleaning device, in combination, means forming a cylindrical bore adapted to receive a suction conduit, means forming a large suction nozzle to one side or and communicating with said bore, means forming a small suction nozzle on the same side of said bore and communicating therewith, anda valve member mounted in said bore and'rotatable about the axis of said bore for selectively cutting ofi communication between the respective nozzles and said bore, and a cylindrical tubular handle member communicating with said bore, the axes of said valve member and of said tubular member being in alignment.

10. In a cleaning device, in combination, means forming a cylindrical bore, means forming a large suction nozzle to one side of and communicating with said bore, means forming a 'small suction nozzle on the same side of said bore and communicating therewith, a valve member mounted in said bore and rotatable about the axis of said bore for selectively cutting off communication between the respective nozzles and said bore, and a hollow handle member forming a suction conduit engageable with said valve member and rotatable to rotate the valve member.

11. A suction nozzle including meansforming a bore adapted to receive a suction conduit, a plate member rigid with respect to said means and having an opening therethrough communicating with said bore, a downwardly extending rim around said opening, and a plurality of projections extending downwardly from said plate outside of said rim and spaced from each other so as to provide passageways therebetween for flow of air toward said rim, said air passing undersaid rim and through said opening.

12. A suction nozzle including means forming a bore adapted to receive a suction conduit, a plate member rigid with respect to said means and having an opening therethrough communicating with said bore, a downwardly extending rim around said opening, and a plurality of spaced knobs projecting downwardly from said plate out- ,side ofsaid bore and communicating therewith,

and a valve means for selectively cutting 01f communication between the respective nozzles and said bore, said nozzles having surface contacting I portions lying in angularly disposed planes whereby only one of said portions contacts a surface at a time.

GUSTAF LJUNGQUIST. 

